Hibiscus plant named ‘Extrepink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Extrepink’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large light red purple-colored flowers with darker red purple-colored centers and venation; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus moscheutos.

Cultivar denomination: ‘EXTREPINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus moscheutos and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Extrepink’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Hibiscus plants with attractive and large flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2008 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Sparkle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,798 as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus moscheutos identified as code number CB51, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in July, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since August, 2009, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Extrepink’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Extrepink’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large light red purple-colored flowers with darker red         purple-colored centers and venation.     -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the parent, ‘Sparkle’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Sparkle’ in flower color as plants of ‘Sparkle’ have white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers and venation.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have narrower leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Mauvelous’, not patented. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Mauvelous’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are not as compact as plants of         ‘Mauvelous’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Mauvelous’ differ         in color as plants of ‘Mauvelous’ have darker-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Extrepink’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Extrepink’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘Extrepink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer in five-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 33° C. and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Extrepink’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Sparkle’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,798.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             moscheutos identified as code number CB51, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at             temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at             temperatures of 19° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white to             light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat outwardly             spreading plant form, broad inverted triangular plant form;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Moderate branching habit, usually about             eight lateral branches develop; pinching enhances lateral             branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 65.9 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 69.3 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 49.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 143B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 11.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate to serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescence along midvein.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than N137D and 147A;             venation, close to 144D. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 6.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large rotate flowers arranged singly at             terminal leaf axils; freely flowering habit with about 24             flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly             to slightly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for             about four days; flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late summer             into the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering             about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower diameter.—About 18.1 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5.8 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about four             days. Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.2 cm. Shape:             Ovate. Color: Close to 143C and 144A; towards the apex,             close to 58A and 59C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals in a             single whorl; petals imbricate. Length: About 9.4 cm. Width:             About 10.6 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to broadly flabellate.             Apex: Rounded and cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 73B; towards             the apex, close to 68B; at the base, close to 61B; venation,             close to 61C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 68B;             towards the apex, close to 68A. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 73B; towards the apex, close to 68B; at the base,             close to 61C; venation, close to 61D; main color becoming             closer to 73B with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 68B; towards the apex, close to 68A.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About             2.4 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Abruptly acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             immature, upper surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Color,             immature, lower surface: Close to 143C and 144A. Color,             mature, upper surface: Close to 143C and 143D. Color,             mature, lower surface: Close to 143B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm             Angle: About 30° from the lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 150. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color:             Close to N155B to N155C. Anther shape: Orbicular. Anther             length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 5D. Amount of             pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8B. Gynoecium:             Pistil length: About 4.1 cm. Style length: About 3.9 cm.             Style color: Close to N155C. Stigma appearance: Five-parted,             club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 48A to 48B. Ovary color:             Close to 65A.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to     USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus. 

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Extrepink’ as illustrated and described. 